Hard cold start for 1980 SC

[Rodger Stewart]

My 1980 SC starts hard when cold. Long cranking before start, followed by dieing. After two or three attempts, car will start but runs rough with some slight backfiring in air box. In a few seconds engine runs smoothly and will continue to start and run perfectly until left to sit for hours. I just had fuel pump, check valve and injectors replaced by dealer. This was my last resort, as I have gone through several private mechanics trying to fix this problem. This is a Euro model with recently rebuilt engine and transmission.

[Porchcar guy]

Is there a reason to not take it back to the engine builder for him to diagnose the issue ? Could be as simple as the pop off valve not seating due to backfires OR it could be vacuum leaks, WUR, Fuel distributor, Fuel accumulator. Those items would be something to look at first. My 79SC would not start at all cold, had to roll her down the hill to start. We fixed that and then she would not start after 15-20 minutes or warm start ...turned out to be the fuel accumulator but we replaced or rebuilt the FP, FF, FA,FD,WUR, and injectors and now she fires first time every time until this week when she got a new battery. Good Luck !!

[Scott R]

You're going to need to check the cold control pressure before you can go much further.

[Bob Kontak]

Roger, welcome to the forum.

Scott R is making sense. Sounds like you are lean for some reason and the WUR can be a major contributor to that.

Given you have paid good money to the dealer for work, a $100-ish set of Pelican pressure gauges will serve you well for years and is not that big of a deal to use. You will also feel like Batman once you get a grip on what your pressures are.

[Scott R]

He can drive to South Denver and use mine if he likes.

[sbmackie]

Had the same problem with an '82. Turned out to be the WUR. Also a move from the mountain west to the east coast required some fuel tuning to get all right again.

Scott